The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-09-21
A MODEL MILLIONAIRE.


Unless one is wealthy there is no good
in being a charming fellow. Romance
is the privilege of the rich, not the pro-
fession Of the unemployed. The poor
should be practical and prosaic. 1t is
better to have a permanent income than
to be fascinating. These are the great
truths of modern life which Hughie Ers-
kline never realized Poor Hughiel In
tellectually, We must admit, he was not
of much importance. He never said ell
ther brilliant or an ill-natured thing in
his life. But then he was wonderfully
good-looking, with his crisp brown hair,
his clear-cut profile, and his gray eyes.
He was as popular with men as he was
with women, and he had every accom-
plishment except that of making money.
His father had bequeathed him his cav
airy sword and History of the Penin-
sular War" in fifteen volumes. Hughie
hung the first over his looking-glass, but
the second on a shelf between RaFs
Guide and Bdiigs Magazine, and lived on
two hundred year that an old aunt al
lowed him. He had tried everything.
He had gone ON the stock exchange for
six months but what was butterfly to
do among bulls and bears He had been
a tea merchant for little longer, but
had soon tired of Pekoke and Souchong.
Then he had tried selling dry sherry.
That did not answer. Ultimately he be-
came nothing, a delightful, Intellectual
young man with perfect profile and no
profession.
To make matters worse, ne was in love.
The girl he loved was Laura Merton, the
daughter of retired colonel who had lost
his temper and his digestion in India,
and had never found either of them
again. Laura adored him, and he was
ready to kiss her shoestrings. They were
the handsomest couple in London, and
had not a penny between them. The
colonel was very fond of Hughie, but
would not hear of any engagement
Come to me, my boy, when you have
got 10000 pounds of your own, and We
will see about it," he used 10 say and
Hughie looked very glum on those days,
and had to 90 to Laura for consolation.
One morning, as he was on his way to
Holland Park, where the Mertons lived,
he dropped in to see friend OF his, Al
an Trevor Trevor was painter. In
deed, few people escape that nowadays.
But he was also an artist, and artists are
rather rare. Personally, he was strange,
rough fellow, with freekled face and
red hair. However, when he took up
his brush he was a real master, and
his pictures were eagerly sought after.
He had been very much attracted by
Hughie, at first, it must be acknowledg-
ed, entirely on account of his looks.
The only people a painter should
know" he used to say, "are people who
are bde and beautiful, people who are an
artistic pleasure TO look at, and an intel
Iectual repose 10 talk TO. Dandies and
darlings rule the world ~ However, after
he got TO know Hughie better, he liked
him quite as much for his bright, buoy
ant spirits and his generous, reckless ma
ture, and had given him the permanent
elih e TO his studio.
When Hughie came in he found Ire
yor putting the finishing touches to a
wonderful life-size picture of beggar-
man. The beggar himself was standing
on a raised platform in corner of the
studio. He was wizened old man with
face like wrinkled parchment, and
most piteous expression. Over his shoul-
ders was flung a coarse, brown cloak. all
ears and tatters his thick boots were
patched and cobbled, and with one hand
he leaned on a rough stick, while with
the other he held out his battered hat for
aims.
"What an amazing model~ whisper
ed Hughie, as he shook hands with his
friend.
An amazing model Pn shouted Ire
vor, at the top Of his voice. should
think So Such beggars a. he are not to
be met with every day. A frauaiue mon-
cher, living Nelasquezl Ny stars what
an etching Rembrandt would have made
of him ~
Poor old chap ~ said Hughie. How
miserable he looks, But l suppose,
to you painters, his face is his for
tuner
Certainly" replied Trevor "you
don't want beggar to look happy, do |
your
How much does model get for sit |
ting" asked Hughie, as he found him.
self comfortable seat on a divan.
A shilling an hour
And how much do you get for your
picture, Alan?"
90, for this get thousand"
pounds ?"
Guineas- Painters, poets and physi-
clans always get guineas-'
swell, think the model should have
a percentage" said Hughie, laughing
they work quite as hard as you
do"
Nonsense, nonsense. Why, look at
the trouble of laying on the paint alone,
and standing all day long at ones easel
Its all very well, Hughie, for you to talk,
but assure you that there are moments
when art approaches the dignity of man.
ual labor But you mustn't chatter I'm
very busy. Smoke cigarette and keep